ZIMMERMAN, SHAWN, PEOPLE v ( 2012 )

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
976
KA 11-01058
PRESENT: FAHEY, J.P., PERADOTTO, CARNI, AND SCONIERS, JJ.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESPONDENT,
V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
SHAWN ZIMMERMAN, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
ROBERT M. PUSATERI, CONFLICT DEFENDER, LOCKPORT (EDWARD P. PERLMAN OF
COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
SHAWN ZIMMERMAN, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT PRO SE.
MICHAEL J. VIOLANTE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, LOCKPORT (LAURA T. BITTNER OF
COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT.
Appeal from a judgment of the Niagara County Court (Sara S.
Sperrazza, J.), rendered April 27, 2011. The judgment convicted
defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of kidnapping in the second degree
and assault in the first degree.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is
unanimously affirmed.
Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him
upon his plea of guilty of kidnapping in the second degree (Penal Law
§ 135.20) and assault in the first degree (§ 120.10 [1]). Contrary to
the contention of defendant in his main brief, his waiver of the right
to appeal is valid. The record establishes that County Court
“ ‘engage[d] the defendant in an adequate colloquy to ensure that the
waiver of the right to appeal was a knowing and voluntary choice’ ”
(People v Glasper, 46 AD3d 1401, 1401, lv denied 10 NY3d 863; see
People v Korber, 89 AD3d 1543, 1543, lv denied 19 NY3d 864; cf. People
v Adger, 83 AD3d 1590, 1591, lv denied 17 NY3d 857). We have
considered defendant’s remaining contentions in his main brief with
respect to the waiver of the right to appeal and conclude that they
are without merit.
Defendant’s contention in his main brief that the court erred in
failing sua sponte to inquire into his state of intoxication at the
time of the commission of the crime is actually a challenge to the
factual sufficiency of the plea allocution, and it is well settled
that defendant’s valid waiver of the right to appeal encompasses that
challenge (see People v Gleen, 73 AD3d 1443, 1444, lv denied 15 NY3d
733; People v Grimes, 53 AD3d 1055, 1056, lv denied 11 NY3d 789;
People v McKay, 5 AD3d 1040, 1041, lv denied 2 NY3d 803). Defendant’s
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KA 11-01058
valid waiver of the right to appeal also encompasses the challenge in
his main brief to the severity of the sentence (see People v Lopez, 6
NY3d 248, 255-256).
The further contention of defendant in his main brief, pro se
supplemental brief and pro se reply brief that the court erred in
denying his motion to withdraw his plea of guilty is based on the
“contention of defendant that the plea was not voluntarily entered[,
and thus it] survives his waiver of the right to appeal” (People v
Poleun, 75 AD3d 1109, 1109, lv denied 15 NY3d 923; see People v
Irvine, 42 AD3d 949, 950, lv denied 9 NY3d 962). We conclude,
however, that defendant’s contention is without merit. “Permission to
withdraw a guilty plea rests solely within the court’s discretion . .
., and refusal to permit withdrawal does not constitute an abuse of
that discretion unless there is some evidence of innocence, fraud, or
mistake in inducing the plea” (People v Robertson, 255 AD2d 968, 968,
lv denied 92 NY2d 1053; see People v Wolf, 88 AD3d 1266, 1266-1267, lv
denied 18 NY3d 863). Here, “[t]he court was presented with a
credibility determination when defendant moved to withdraw his plea
and advanced his belated claim[] of [intoxication] . . ., and it did
not abuse its discretion in discrediting th[at] claim[]” (People v
Sparcino, 78 AD3d 1508, 1509, lv denied 16 NY3d 746). We reject
defendant’s further contention that a hearing was required on the
motion. “Only in the rare instance will a defendant be entitled to an
evidentiary hearing; often a limited interrogation by the court will
suffice. The defendant should be afforded [a] reasonable opportunity
to present his contentions and the court should be enabled to make an
informed determination” (People v Tinsley, 35 NY2d 926, 927; see
People v Strasser, 83 AD3d 1411, 1411). The record establishes that
defendant was afforded such an opportunity and that the court was able
to make an informed determination of the motion.
In addition, although defendant’s further contention in his main
brief that his plea was not knowing, voluntary and intelligent because
he was coerced into pleading guilty “survives his valid waiver of the
right to appeal and he preserved that contention for our review” by
moving to withdraw the plea (People v Phillips, 56 AD3d 1168, 1169, lv
denied 11 NY3d 928), we reject that contention. Defendant contends
that he was coerced because he had no choice but to accept the plea
bargain offered by the People. Defendant is not entitled to the plea
bargain of his choosing, and “defendant’s fear that a harsher sentence
would be imposed if defendant were convicted after trial does not
constitute coercion” (People v Newman [appeal No. 1], 231 AD2d 875,
875, lv denied 89 NY2d 944; see People v Jackson, 90 AD3d 1692, 1693,
lv denied 18 NY3d 958; People v Boyde, 71 AD3d 1442, 1443, lv denied
15 NY3d 747).
We have considered defendant’s remaining contentions in his pro
se briefs, and we conclude that they are without merit.
Entered: November 9, 2012 Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court